This is a NEW section to reflect the increase in the number of talks and lectures about Botanical art
now being delivered on a regular basis
​- in person and ONLINE 
Below I'm listing the main sources of talks and lectures. Those that remain available online will also be listed.
ONLINE TALKS AND LECTURES
  • The Shirley Sherwood Collection
  • Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library Talks
  • ​Linnean Society - Talks and Tours
  • ​Julia Trickey Talks 
  • ASBA Annual Conference - available to members 

Find out more about these online talks, lectures and demos below.
IN PERSON TALKS, LECTURES & TOURS
  • ​Kew Gardens "Ask the Expert"
  • Kew Gardens Tours of Herbarium / Library
  • Lectures in The Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew Gardens
  • Lectures at the Lindley Library, RHS HQ, London

Most talks and lectures in person are suspended at the moment. I expect they will resume once we're nearer to normal again.

It's possible that more of these will be videoed in future for online delivery also.
Picture
Lucy T Smith giving a free lecture on the Worldwide Botanical Art Day in 2018 - in The Shirley Sherwood Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

ONLINE TALKS AND LECTURES
​

The great advantage of talks and lectures being delivered online is that they are accessible by anybody anywhere in the world. 

I've been in the audience of a number now and they seem to be  universally liked by those watching judging by the comments online and at the end. Viewing is of course the same for everyone - so no need to make sure you have got a good view relative to the speaker!
Features of such talks and lectures are as follows:
  • Like educational courses, access is often dependent on the payment of a fee - usually via Paypal or similar secure payment facility
  • The quality of reception of the online delivery assumes you have equipment and broadband facilities and access to Zoom and/or Facebook.
  • Paid Talks are often recorded and can then be viewed for a limited period (usually 48 hours) after the event - so if you have another commitment or are asleep when it's happening you can catch up the next day

Shirley Sherwood Talks
​

Shirley Sherwood had been delivering online videos of two types from the The Shirley Sherwood Collection's Facebook Page.

These are COMPLETELY FREE and comprise:
  • Botanical Me - Artists in the Shirley Sherwood Collection talking about their work
  • Short talks by Shirley Sherwood about specific paintings in her collection. This is a fabulous resource because you learn about both artist and the plant in the painting.
  • This is the link to the Videos Page where you can see all the videos to date

Botanical Me Artists Videos to date include:

Talks by the Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library
​

Talks about the RHS's Permanent Art Collection at the Lindley Library are usually arranged by the RHS Art Curator Charlotte Brooks and take place in the Library.

During the Pandemic Talks have moved online and are FREE. 
  • All talks are FREE to members and non members of the RHS
  • they can be accessed by anybody anywhere in the world.
  • Delivery is via Zoom
  • Registration is essential due to limit on numbers
UPCOMING ONLINE TALKS

Talks and Tours at the Linnean Society
​

Although focused more on Botany and Natural History rather than botanical art, the Linnean Society also has talks and tours related to botanical art and illustration and they have some stunning work in their collection.

They have recently converted events to online - which makes them accessible to anybody, anywhere in the world.
Payment is very reasonable and events are organised via Eventbrite.
The Virtual Treasures Tour - a a virtual tour of the Linnean Society's home at Burlington House and collections - happens on the last Friday of each month
See Linnean Society Upcoming Events for details
  • This event costs £5 each session and is open to all.
  • Registration is essential, and will close 24 hours before the event is set to begin.​

Julia Trickey Talks
​

Find out more: Botanical Art Talks | Julia Trickey
  • Sessions: typically 50-60 minutes - comprising a talk with images / demonstrations and Q&A session at the end
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Dates and Times: generally two per month with 8pm / 3pm EST start for UK speakers or 7pm / 2pm EST for USA speakers
​View after the event: 
  • Talks are recorded
  • available to registrants 24 hours after the live session
  • Access online / watch more than once for a further 48 hours - making them accessible whatever your time zone!​
You MUST:
  • book in advance 
  • pay a fee (£12 per talk) via Paypal
  • have good internet bandwidth (eg if you watch TV via your broadband you'll be OK)
  • understand how Zoom works
NOTE that:
  • you must keep your unique link safe - and use just before the talk begins
  • technical support is not available during the talk
  • fee is only refundable if the talk is cancelled
  • only YOU can access the talk 
UPCOMING TALKS in 2021
  • ​1 April: Helen Allen - The Great Reveal: Hidden Numbers and Geometry in Flowers
  • 15 April: Mary Dillon - Roses... capturing a moment in watercolour
  • ​29 April: Sarah Morrish - Strandline and marine discoveries in pen and ink
  • ​20 May: Carrie di Costanza - Egg Tempera: Material & Techniques
  • 27 May: Lara Call Gastinger - How to start and maintain a perpetual journal
  • 10 June: Ann Swan - Creative Colour Mixing with Coloured Pencils
  • 24 June: Katherine Tyrrell - Business Savvy Botanical Art 
  • 22 July: Gillian Condy - Madagascar: In Search of Baobabs
  • ​16 September: Shevaun Doherty - Pollinators in Botanical Art
Recent Speakers
14 January - Julia Trickey
28 January - Laura Silburn
4 February - Deborah Lambkin
18 February - Lizzie Harper
4 March - Lucy Smith
​18 March - Martin Allen

American Society of Botanical Artists - Master Demos
​

ASBA are proposing to repeat their very successful Online Annual Conference in 2020 as an Online Event again in 2021.

This is due to the continued uncertainty about the pandemic and travel restrictions / social distancing etc.

I expect ASBA will probably follow the same model and develop a suite of "Master Demonstrations" of three sessions on broadly related topics following the model of
  • talking about a topic
  • presentation of slideshow and/or demonstration (live or videoed in advance)
  • live Q&A at end
Details of Speakers and subjects have not yet been announced.
Date of 2021 Online Annual Conference: (probably) October 14-16, 2021 (i.e. original conference dates)

Features of Online Delivery last year were:
  • 7 Master Demo “Blocks” (am or pm): $75/c.£55 per block each block includes:
    • three one-hour demonstrations
    • by three different master artists
  • Sessions: typically 50-60 minutes with Q&A at end
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Booking: Essential
  • Cost:
    • ​basic registration fee for members
    • optional booking for a morning or afternoon Master Demo Block of three talks

"IN PERSON" TALKS, LECTURES AND TOURS
​

'Ask an Expert' / Tours - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
​

The Shirley Sherwood Gallery has been the venue for "Ask an Expert" sessions by various botanical illustrators who do work for the botanists working for Kew Gardens.

The purpose of these sessions are to allow emerging/improving botanical artists to
  • view how a professional botanical artist works - and see examples of their completed work
  • ask technical questions about aspects of botanical art and illustration - and 
  • receive practical tips and advice about developing their own work.
​​
To date these have included:
  • 2019 -  Christabel King and Rachel Pedder Smith​
  • 2020 - Lucy Smith, Hazel Wilks and Deborah Lambkin
Behind the Scenes Tours of the Herbarium and Library are also arranged from time to time:
  • via the Open House weekend (early Autumn)
  • in liaison with specific exhibitions and arrangement with Kew Departments / key individuals
  • access for talks/tours open to Kew Members only are often advertised to Kew Members in the Magazine
Picture
Lucy T Smith providing a presentation to the Florilegium Society of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Lectures at the Lindley Library, Royal Horticultural Society
​

The RHS Lindley Library usually has regular lectures and talks related to artists or artwork in the permanent collection of the Royal Horticultural Society.
​No 'in person' talks are being held at present due to the Pandemic.

Such talks are advertised on the Website - generally under Events or the Lindley Library Page.

Talks are  very often related to an exhibition in the Lindley Library or a topical subject.

Booking is required due to limited space.
Picture
Herbals held in the secure section of the RHS Lindley Library Collection
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